New Georgian Chief Peacekeeper Appointed in South Ossetia

Colonel Mamuka Kurashvili was appointed as commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone, replacing Paata Bedianashvili, the Georgian Defense Ministry reported on January 4.
 
This is a reappointment for Col. Kurashvili, who held the position in 2005. In September, 2005 he was replaced by Paata Bedianashvili, triggering the protest of the South Ossetian side after Tskhinvali accused Bedianashvili of participating in the armed clashes which erupted in the conflict zone in the summer of 2004.

During his term in service Bedianashvili, who was removed from the position of chief Georgian peacekeeper in December 2006, was barred from entering Tskhinvali where the headquarters of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) is located. The JPKF is made up of three peacekeeping battalions from the Russian, Ossetian and Georgian sides.

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